From attendances to NBA-style walkouts: Club World Cup talking points

From attendances to NBA-style walkouts: Club World Cup talking points

The opening week of the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has been played under a political shadow, while South American sides impress and some games struggle to attract fans.

Infantino Defends Club World Cup Format Amid Player Workload Concerns

June 22, (THEWILL) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the expanded Club World Cup, calling it “something special” despite ongoing criticism from fans, players, and observers. Speaking at the Fanatics Fest event in New York on Saturday, Infantino addressed concerns regarding the new 32-team format, which has attracted scrutiny over low ticket sales, player […] The post Infantino Defends Club World Cup Format Amid Player Workload Conce…

Cult of celebrity feels like a fundamental tension at the heart of the game

The individual walk-ons at Club World Cup underline Fifa’s failure to understand that football is a team sport – just ask PSG It is in the details that the truest picture emerges. Quite aside from the endless politicking, the forever-war with Uefa, the consorting with autocrats and the intriguing broadcast rights and partnership deals, there has been, not a new, but growing sense during the Club World Cup that Fifa doesn’t really get football. T…